Tributes to ‘loving father’ killed cycling near Harbury

Tributes have been paid to a “loving husband and father” who was killed in a collision while training on his bike near Harbury last weekend.

Simon Worthington, 33, was killed in a collision with a Range Rover just after 10am on Saturday February 20.

Simon was a loving husband, father and friend. There are no words to describe how much he will be missed

Simon’s family

The fatal incident happened days after a cyclist was knocked unconscious while riding in the county on February 18, and another was hit along Banbury Road yesterday (Thursday) morning.

Simon, a keen cyclist and triathlete who moved to Leamington from Solihull, was hit while training for a race on the B4452 Ufton Road. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The father of a young son worked as a data analyst at Barclay’s Bank and was expecting his second child with his wife, Emma.

A statement released by his family following his death read: “He was a keen sportsman and was training for a half iron man triathlon later this year when the collision happened. Emma is expecting their second child later this summer. Simon was a loving husband, father and friend. There are no words to describe how much he will be missed.”

The accident happened just days before Jon Stephenson, treasurer and rider with Team Jewson MI Racing, was in collision with a car while out training on the road near Hatton. The veteran Warwick cyclist was hit while riding around the Five Ways Island. He was knocked unconscious for several hours and suffered a fractured skull in the incident, said the race team.

As the Courier went to press on Thursday morning, a third cyclist was hit by a van just off the Banbury Road and Myton Road roundabout.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) spokesman said: “The man in his 30s suffered head injuries in the collision and was transferred to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire for treatment.”

The road was closed for around 40 minutes while police and emergency services attended the incident.

Warnings have been sent out to cyclists amid the incidents and as more riders hit the road to train through the spring. Mick Ives, a multiple national cycling champion and head of MI Racing, has issued a warning to others that they should always be aware of dangers from traffic while on their bikes.

“As the racing season approaches this serves to remind us that bike riding can be dangerous. We can minimise both cause and effect in the way we ride our bikes but not everything is within our control.

“Wear your helmet whenever you get on your bike. Accidents can happen event at low speed.”

Police were still appealing for information after Mr Worthington was hit near Harbury.

A WMAS spokesman said: “Ambulance staff found a cyclist who had suffered very serious injuries.

“Despite extensive efforts to save the man, unfortunately, they were in vain and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

“The man driving the 4x4 was uninjured.”

Warwickshire Police later arrested a 24-year-old man from Leamington on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He has been bailed until early April. Any information to police officers on 101.